Excerpt: "The New York Giants took care of business in their Week 17 encounter, ending the year on a hot note, like they have done more than once in recent times. However, this time they didn’t get the help they needed to make the postseason and have a shot at retaining their Championship.

The poor run of form earlier in the season had left them needing help from elsewhere that never came and, consequently, hammering Philadelphia by 35 points and finally consigning the Andy Reid-era to the history books will have to be enough as the Giants slink off into the offseason wondering where it went wrong.

The Eagles finally looked like a team that had simply given up on 2012 and were waiting on the sweeping changes to come. They scored once all game, and, in truth, seemed inevitably marching to an ugly end, which is a sad way for a fantastic coaching tenure to finish — though perhaps it fits their 2012 season perfectly.

New York – Three Performances of Note

Justin Tuck Starts His Playoff Form

For the past few seasons Justin Tuck has been AWOL for much of the regular season only to turn it on late in the season and impress himself upon the postseason as the Giants make their run to the title. This season he seemed to stick to the same plan, showing up in 34 snaps this week for his best game of the year, but unfortunately for him the Giants won’t be in the postseason for him to continue it.Tuck rushed the passer 26 times in the game, used largely as a sub-package player in that regard, and notched a sack, hit and two more hurries, which was better than any other Giant managed.

Jason Pierre-Paul, the player Tuck has essentially been replaced by as the stud in that defense, was rather curiously blanked in the game, notching no pressure at all from 36 rushes, though he did make a couple of nice plays in the run game.

Dominant Interior

The middle three of the Giants’ offensive line came to work in this game, as you might have been able to guess if you’d seen the running backs for New York charging upfield for huge gains time after time. David Baas has the best day of the three, with none of them surrendering any pressure, but Baas in particular was dominant in the run game. Whether it was sealing defensive tackles away from the point of attack or working through to the second level and swallowing up linebackers, Baas just recorded a constant stream of positive grades in this game, and the Giants’ runners can consider him a big part of their day.

Eli Bounces Back

Whatever happened to Eli Manning for a time this season it was gone in this game, though I suppose it’s fair to say playing the Eagles might do that. Manning attempted just 20 passes, and scored five touchdowns, meaning that one in every four balls he threw went for a score. Any way you slice it that is a pretty efficient day at the office. He was aided by a ground game that looked capable of knocking out a first down any time they wanted to, as well as eating up the yardage if they needed to move the chains and improve field position. The line was also keeping him clean, surrendering pressure on just six drop-backs and leading to one of his better graded games of the season.

Game Notes– FB Henry Hynoski scored a touchown and then broke out the ‘Hynocerous dance’, something that would earn him a fortune should he turn it into a poster anytime soon.– Eagles WRs combined for just 101 yards receiving from 23 targets.– LeSean McCoy accounted for 105 yards from 15 touches.

PFF Game Ball

Tough to look past anybody that throws as efficiently as Eli Manning did, but David Baas earns the Game Ball with a fantastic display in the middle." Read more...

FBomb

01-01-2013, 10:35 AM

At least we didn't go out like *******!!!

EnragedYouth85

01-01-2013, 10:39 AM

Baas needs to carry this over to next year and whip that whole line into shape! Give Eli more time and open up them holes for Davis Wilson and Bradshaw..

dakotajoe

01-01-2013, 10:43 AM

I noticed Tuck turned his game up. It wasn't against a great line but it looked like he had some burst.

JPP was great against the run but no pressures in 36 passing attempts is a bit odd.

miked1958

01-01-2013, 11:05 AM

JPP will be okay. It's just that people figured him out and double him up mostly after that breakout first season. I think he will settle in over next 5-7 years as one of the Top DEs in the NFL. Very Solid. I'd take 3 more of him any day.

miked1958

01-01-2013, 11:05 AM

Wow. Didn't realize he was 5Tds in 20 Attempts..

slipknottin

01-01-2013, 11:25 AM

I noticed Tuck turned his game up. It wasn't against a great line but it looked like he had some burst.

JPP was great against the run but no pressures in 36 passing attempts is a bit odd.

I have to rewatch what they asked him to do, but it could be that JPP was asked to just maintain his lanes against Vick and not rush.

Rusty192

01-01-2013, 12:05 PM

I have to rewatch what they asked him to do, but it could be that JPP was asked to just maintain his lanes against Vick and not rush.They did a great job. Although Vick seemed slower to me imo.